Nexstar seeks WFEDC package to hire welders

Gerardo Garcia uses a grinder in a welding class at the Career Education Center. While there is a growing number of welders in training in Wichita Falls, the demand for experienced welders is growing more quickly than area institutions can provide. Nexstar Manufacturing is seeking a cash for jobs pacakge from the WFEDC to hire on 25 new welders.(Photo: Torin Halsey/Times Record News)Buy Photo

It seems in several realms of the Wichita Falls manufacturing world, demand is growing exponentially.

Welders, especially, are needed for these companies to create products on a tight timetable. While there are some trade colleges and workforce pools to pull from in the city, the needs outweigh the available welders in the area.

A resolution under consideration by the Wichita Falls City Council Tuesday would approve an Wichita Falls Economic Development Corporation expenditure of up to $175,000 for Nexstar Manufacturing, Inc. to bring on 25 new welders.

A few years ago, Nexstar owner Michael Thompson and his father opened Machining Solution on North Brook. The business saw strong growth and they moved from their 5,000-square-foot building and purchased a larger facility on Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Machining Solution was purchased by Michael Bernhardt in 2009, and the name changed to Arrow Manufactured Products. That company is now successful in its own right with 50 employees.

Thompson wanted to venture on his own and began Nexstar with management partners Akshay Lazaruz and Jody Bloodworth.

Bloodworth purchased the new facility on Mississippi on February 1. He will maintain ownership of the building and lease it to Nexstar.

After investing nearly $1 million in startup costs, Nexstar will focus on construction manufacturing and oil and gas projects. Products will include skids, weldments for heavy construction, environmental management, waste containers, and gas production units and more products related to the oil and gas industry.

In the next four years, Nexstar plans to bring on 94 new positions. Conservatively, they plan to hire 25 in 2018, and another 25 through 2019.

Nexstar Inc. owner Michael Thompson approached the WFEDC board in mid-January seeking a jobs package to recruit new welders to the company. Like a recent proposal by Sharp Iron Inc., Nexstar said their company is expanding and they are looking to hire at least 25 new welders.

Nexstar is seeking to begin a welding fabrication facility in the former Lone Star Tool building, at 70,000-square-foot building already outfitted with cranes and electricity.

Thompson said he has several customers and potential customers lined up and just needed more employees to complete the work.

At the beginning, he plans to purchase semi-finished products then adding more sub-assemblies as they gain workers.

Thompson said in the current market, demand is far outweighing supply and he is confident in the company’s success, if they can get enough people to get the jobs done.

A proposed cash-for-jobs package was $7,000 per job for 25 new jobs at Nexstar. The welding jobs would average $20 per hour.

At the initial WFEDC meeting January 18, the board approved up to $75,000 to hire up to 25 people for welding positions. The offer came with the caveats that the positions are filled this year by people that come from outside Wichita County and that each employee stay with Nexstar at least six months. The amount per job would be $3,000.

The WFEDC recommendations after a second WFEDC meeting February 8, were for a maximum package of $175,000 for 25 new jobs on a tiered system. The WFEDC would allow $4,000 for each new job plus an additional $3,000 for employees brought in from out of county. The employees are required to be in the position for at least six months before Nexstar petitions the WFEDC for payment.

If this WFEDC package is successful for Nexstar, they could request a similar partnership for future hires at this fast-growing company.